Almost a CNA!

[Nikki]

I take my test in 3 more weeks (the 31st). Yesterday, I got CPR certified and this coming Tuesday, we start clinicals. I'm so excited! I talked wiht my instructor and I have decided to try and get on at the local hospital (Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center) and go for my CNA II. I'll get paid while getting trained. That will be 2 or 3 extra points. My school uses a point system to determine which applicants get into the Nursing programs. Plus, having my CNA II certification will give me that much more training and hands on experience.

YAY!!!

 

[KnarfKS]

Hopefully the CNA test is as easy as mine was. The one in Kansas is so easy I would be scared if any 8 year old could not pass it. There was an actual multiple choice question that asked:

What is a proper food for an elderly person with poor dentition?
A. glass
B. ball
C. mashed potatoes
D. prone position

I am not kidding. :o It scared me that people have flunked the test. I didn't study at all and got a 100%.

Are you trying to go to NC? I was looking at their grad program for nurse practitioner.

 

[Nikki]

LOL...I know it's so easy! I hear the CNA II is harder though because they teach you to deal with trachs, feeding tubes, and IV care.

I won't be going to a state university. I can get my ADN at the community college where I go. If I had a choice and could afford it, my choice would be Winston-Salem State. I hear a LOT of good things about their nursing programs. My friend just graduated from the community college where I go and she said was amazed at how prepared the WS State students were once they graduated.

I'm anxious to see how clinicals go next week because when the instructor said we would be helping with bathing, feeding and changing diapers, some of the students started freaking out. What the heck did they think a CNA did??? :-?

What skills did you have to perform for your skills portion of the test?

 

[KnarfKS]

we were only graded on the clinical portion for skills, the instructor just watched us a few times and made sure we knew what we were doing. Bed baths, transfers (learn good body mechanics and save your back) and a few other things that were not that difficult.

The same thing with people freaking out happened in our class too. They had to take it to get into the nursing program, they didn't realize that even RN's have to clean people up every once in a while. :o Poop happens, especially when your a nurse.

I sometimes think people look at the money and the availability of jobs and say nursing is great, but they don't have a clue what the job entails. If you don't like the work, the pay isn't worth it.

I think there is an advantage to doing an ADN program. There is usually more clinical experience so you focus more on patient care. The BSN only gives a little more management. Thats the main reason I'm doing an ADN program right now, and then going to finish my BSN later and then MS.

 

[Nikki]

The same thing with people freaking out happened in our class too. They had to take it to get into the nursing program, they didn't realize that even RN's have to clean people up every once in a while. Poop happens, especially when your a nurse.

Yeah, really! I just kinda looked at them like "what the heck did you think you'd be doing? Playing checkers all day?". :

Have you gone to this website: http://allnurses.com/forums/index.php

It is FULL of wonderful info. Make sure to check out the Student forums. I go to it daily.

 

[KnarfKS]

I went to that site. I spent 2 hours reading the funny patient stories. The other interesting one was the stories about gross things that had happened to people, I have a strong stomach(I work in wound care), but I actually was getting sort of queasy. :o

 

[Blazin Bones]

Congrats! Keep up the good work Nikki.